Performances
“Streisand-orama”
February 16, 2010
Mortified D.C.
Town Danceboutique, Washington, D.C.
Childhood drawings and other ephemera documenting my hobby between the ages of 10 and 14: Collecting Barbra Streisand memorabilia.
“Why Doesn’t Aretha Pay Her Bills?”
March 9, 2010
SpeakeasyDC
Town Danceboutique, Washington, D.C.
Story of meeting Aretha Franklin, performed for the monthly SpeakeasyDC show, theme: Brushes with Fame.
“I Am a Salahi”
March 19, 2010
UsedWigs Live
World Café Live, Philadelphia, Pa.
Slideshow about my yearly ritual of crashing the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington.
“When’s Etta Coming Down?”
June 19, 2010
First Person Arts StorySlam
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, Pa.
Story about trying to meet Etta James. Theme: Song & Dance.
“When’s Etta Coming Down?”
July 1, 2010
The Moth – StorySlam
Cliff Bell’s, Detroit, Mich.
My Etta James story, this time it was judged the night’s winner for best story. Theme: Persuasion.
“Streisand-orama”
July 15, 2010
Best of Mortified D.C.
The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.
Childhood drawings and other ephemera documenting my hobby between the ages of 10 and 14: Collecting Barbra Streisand memorabilia.
“Dawson”
August 24, 2010
First Person Arts StorySlam
L’Etage, Philadelphia, Pa.
Theme: Bad Company.
“Gnomes”
September 16, 2010
Mortified NYC
92 nd Street Y Tribeca, New York, N.Y.
Slideshow about a science class diarama I made at age 11 suggesting that gnomes were real.
“The Philly Ignore”
September 23, 2010
The Moth – Detroit GrandSlam
The Gem Theatre, Detroit, Mich.
Story about the loss of innocence of a Midwesterner living in Rocky’s town. Theme: When Worlds Collide.
“’70s Child”
November 10, 2010
Mortified D.C.
Town Danceboutique, Washington, D.C.
Special appearance in mini poetry slam as part of the night’s regular program.
“We, Tina”
December 2, 2010
Show & Tell: An Evening of ’80s and ’90s Nostalgery
The Wonderland Ballroom, Washington, D.C.
Story with visual aids, about my teenage fandom for Tina Turner, and another fan who took it further.
“How I Taught an Old Nazi the True Meaning of Christmas”
December 18, 2010
The Stoop Storytelling: O Little Town of Baltimore – A Holiday Live Radio Show
Center Stage, Baltimore, Md.
Story about an awkward visit at the home of a friend’s German relatives.
“The Spirit of Y2K”
December 28, 2010
First Person Arts StorySlam
L’Etage, Philadelphia, Pa.
Story of the scary night that bridged 1999 and 2000. Also hosted the show that evening. Theme: Holiday Spirit.
“I Was Janis Joplin for College”
January 29, 2011
Fan-Freaking-Tastic Series
Chief Ike’s, Washington, D.C.
Story of how I believed I was Janis reincarnated in college. Theme: Reinvention and Altered States.
“The Irish Bathhouse”
February 15, 2011
Bad Romance: A Comedy Show About Love and Other Messy Stuff
Go, Mama, Go, Washington, D.C.
My experiment going to a bathhouse in Dublin to work on my rejectophobia.
“The Irish Bathhouse”
February 28, 2011
The Moth – StorySlam
The Bitter End, New York, N.Y.
My experiment going to a bathhouse in Dublin to work on my rejectophobia.
“Barbra Buddies”
March 3, 2011
Story League Presents: Sins of Youth
Black Fox Lounge, Washington, D.C.
A new version of the story of my childhood hobby: Collecting Barbra Streisand memorabilia.
“The Irish Bathhouse”
March 14, 2011
The Show & Tell Show
Union Hall, Brooklyn, N.Y.
My experiment going to a bathhouse in Dublin to work on my rejectophobia.
“I Was Janis Joplin for College”
“The Story of a StorySlam”
Pink Line Project
Washington, D.C.
“Streisand-orama”
Mortified SF
The Makeout Room
San Francisco, CA
“Gnomes”
May 12, 2011
Mortified NYC
92nd Street Y Tribeca, New York, N.Y.
Slideshow about a science class diarama I made at age 11 suggesting that gnomes were real.
“When’s Etta Coming Down?”
May 28, 2011
Fan-Freaking-Tastic Series
Chief Ike’s, Washington, D.C.
Story about trying to meet Etta James. Theme: I’m with the Band.
“I Was Janis Joplin for College”
June 2, 2011
The Moth – StorySlam
Cliff Bell’s, Detroit, Mich.
Theme: Fame.
“Gnomes”
June 3, 2011
Mortified Boston
Oberon, Cambridge, Mass.
Slideshow about a science class diarama I made at age 11 suggesting that gnomes were real.
Saturday Night Showcase
June 4, 2011
The Comedy Studio
Cambridge, Mass.
Comedic storytelling/stand-up set.
“John Wayne Bobbitt Gives Me His Autograph”
July 6, 2011
Story League Presents: Powers That Be
Black Fox Lounge, Washington, D.C.
“We, Tina”
August 4, 2011
Story League Presents: Encore, Encore!
Black Fox Lounge, Washington, D.C.
“Motown”
“Male Witch”
“Mr. Runningwater”
Literary Death Match D.C.: Ep. 2
“Not Kosher”
“My 1983 Christmas List”
D.C. Arts Center, Washington, D.C.
“My 1983 Christmas List”
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pa.
“The Irish Bathhouse”
January 24, 2012
Bare! Stories of Sex, Romance and Desire
The Black Cat, Washington, D.C.
“When’s Etta Coming Down?”
February 2, 2012
The Charlie Visconage Show
DC Arts Center, Washington, D.C.
Radio
This American Life
Episode 231: “Sink or Swim”
Ira Glass interviewed me for the prologue portion of the show, and I told him the story of how, while trying to work as a German interpreter, I ditched a bunch of Austrian tourists at an auto factory in Detroit.
Episode 330: “My Reputation”
Interviewed by Gabriel Delahaye for his piece “The Hole Truth.”
UsedWigs Radio
SM Shrake and Jim Gladstone on Philly’s top pop-culture podcast.
The Big Takeover with Tyler S.
Season 6, Episode 4
Interviewed on WGTB / Georgetown University Radio.
UsedWigs Radio LIVE
SM Shrake and Kelly Vrooman taped live at L’Etage in Philadelphia.
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Media Coverage
The People’s District
May 29, 2010
“On Being the Ultimate Washington Insider”
The Rumpus
October 1, 2010
“Paula Whyman in Conversation with SM Shrake”
Philadelphia Magazine’s G-Philly
December 27, 2010
“Holiday StorySlam at L’Etage”
UsedWigs
December 30, 2010
“Interview with SM Shrake of First Person Arts StorySlam”
We Love D.C.
February 25, 2011
“Storytelling in D.C.: Story League”
DC Magazine
July/August 2011
“That’s Another Story”
365DC
August 5, 2011
“What’s New, D.C.? Story League!”
Washington City Paper
August 11, 2011
“Politics and Science Collide This Night at Artisphere”
The Washington Times
October 9, 2011
“Storytelling takes center stage at SpeakeasyDC”
The Washington Post
December 21, 2011
“Storytelling Sweeps the District”
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